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Southern Nevada is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. In 2006, Clark County’s 1.2 million vehicles used approximately 3 million gallons of gasoline per day, and McCarran International Airport used about 1.27 million gallons of jet fuel per day. Due to Nevada’s growing tourism industry and the expected population growth to support it, it is estimated that the demand for fuels will increase by 25 percent over the next five years. According to a report issued by the Blue Ribbon Commission, a board put together to study the area’s future fuel needs, Southern Nevada is expected to outstrip their fuel supply in the near future because of increased tourism and population growth. The Blue Ribbon Commission also reported that Southern Nevada’s entire fuel supply is currently delivered through two parallel pipelines from Colton, California to North Las Vegas, which are running at/or near capacity. One pipeline measures 8 inches in diameter and has a capacity of approximately 31,000 barrels per day (one barrel equals 42 gallons). The second pipeline measures 14 inches in diameter and can carry approximately 109,000 barrels of product per day. All other fuel delivered to Southern Nevada is by tanker truck. The Commission recommended that a new pipeline should be built to help meet demand and that it should come from a source other than California to provide enhanced reliability should one system experience failure or delay in service. |
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